MUSKOKA - A little action can do a body and soul good.
Every year, the first full week of May is Children’s Mental Health Week, promoting awareness of the signs of child and youth mental health problems, decreasing the stigma surrounding children’s mental health issues and raising understanding that help is available to affected kids across Ontario.
Children’s Mental Health Ontario reports that one in five Ontario children and youth have a mental health problem, which equals about 500,000 children. Disorders range from anxiety, depression and conduct disorder to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Left untreated, mental health disorders can lead to school failure, family conflicts, drug abuse, violence, and even suicide.
This year, in honour of the national Children’s Mental Health Week (May 7-12), Family, Youth and Child Services of Muskoka is again hosting several free family swim events. They will be Friday, May 11 at 7 p.m. at the Huntsville pool and the Gravenhurst YMCA aquatic facility or Saturday, May 12 at 7 p.m. at the Bracebridge Sportsplex.
Family, Youth and Child Services of Muskoka promotes the well-being of children and youth to strengthen families and is an integrated Children’s Mental Health agency, Youth Justice and Child Welfare agency.